Time lock case

ABSTRACT

A time lock is disclosed comprising a container and lid and means for locking the lid in a position closing the container for a predetermined period of time. The locking means includes a source of electric current and a solenoid connected across the current source through a manually operable switch and through an electronically controlled switch. Means are further provided for triggering the electronically controlled switch closed upon the elapse of the predetermined period of time.

United States Patent 1191 Sysk Mar. 26, 1974 [54] TIME LOCK CASE PrimaryExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. [76] Inventor: Gerald R. Sysk, 1070Stoneybrook gi z Agent or Firm-Newton Hopkms &

Rd., Forrest Park, Ga. 30050 y 'l 15 1973 [22] ed Mar 57 ABSTRACT [21]Appl. No.: 341,568

A time lock is disclosed comprising a container and lid and means forlocking the lid in a position closing the [52] US. Cl 70/269, 317/134container f a predetermined period of time The [51] Int. Cl E05b 43/00locking means includes a Source of electric current [58] Fleld of Search70/267 and a solenoid connected across the current source 70/271 througha manually operable switch and through an electronically controlledswitch. Means are further References Clted provided for triggering theelectronically controlled UNITED STATES PATENTS switch closed upon theelapse of the predetermined 2,145,314 1/1939 Murtaugh 70/85 Periodoftime- 2,508.l59 5/1950 Haas 312/67 11 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 47,902 11/1920 Sweden 70/271I/II/I/I/I/I/I PMENIEDmzs m4 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG 2 TIME LOCK CASEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to time lock cases.

Heretofore, cases adapted to house articles such as cigarettes,medications and valuables have been provided with time controlled meansfor permitting access to the interiors thereof only after the elapse ofa predetermined period of time. The present invention relates toimprovements in such time lock cases. In the interest of brevity thecases hereinafter referred to are of the type adapted to housecigarettes. However, it should remain borne in mind that the principlesof the invention may readily be utilized in time lock cases adapted tohouse other type articles.

Time locks for cigarette cases have heretofore been generally of themechanical operated type employing clockwork mechanisms comprisingvarious gear trains, springs and spring winding controls, rotatabledrums, rollers, cams, actuators and the like. Such mechanisms arerelatively complex and require substantial skill and time to assemblerendering them costly to manufacture. Substitution of certain componentssuch, for example, as electric motive means for spring motive means hason balance failed to simplify the overall mechanisms significantly.Without simplification the cases have also tended to remain relativelybulky and heavy.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved time lock case.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide atime lock case of relatively simple and economic construction.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a light weight, portablecase having means for locking the case for a predetermined period oftime each time the case is closed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a case having meansfor locking the case for a predetermined period of time each time thecase is closed, and means accessible only when the case is in an openposition for readily altering the predetermined period of time.-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one form of the invention a timelock case is provided comprising a container having an opening throughwhich access to the container interior may be had, a movable lid adaptedto cover at least a portion of the container opening when disposed in aclosed position, and means for locking the lid in the closed positionfor a predeterminable period of time. The locking means includes asource of electric current and a solenoid connected across the currentsource through a manually operable switch and through an electronicallycontrolled switch. Means are further provided for triggering theelectronically controlled switch closed upon the elapse of thepredetermined period of time whereby current may flow from the currentsource through the electronically controlled switch and the solenoidupon closure of the manually operable switch.

In another form of the invention a time lock case is provided comprisinga container having an opening through which access to the containerinterior may be had, and a movable lid adapted to cover at least aportion of the container opening when disposed in a closed position. Alatch is provided for holding the lid in the means further includes aresistor and capacitor connected in series circuit across the currentsource, and means coupling the capacitor with the thyristor gate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a timelock case embodying principles ofthe invention in one form with the caselid shown in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the time lock case shown in FIG. 1 withthe case lid in a closed, locked position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid portion of the time lock caseshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a portion of the lid shown broken away toreveal internal components therewithin.

FIG. 4 is a side view in cross-section of the time lock case shown inFIG. 1.

FIGS is a schematic diagram of the electronic circuit portion of thetime lock case illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative electronic circuit whichmay form a portion of the time lock case shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now in more detail to thedrawing there is shown a time lock case embodying principles of thepresent invention. The case comprises a container 14 into which a packof cigarettes 12 may be inserted and stored, and a lid 16 pivotablysecured to the top of the container by two pins 18. With thisarrangement the lid may be manually moved between the lid open positionshown in FIG. 1, which position permits access to the interior of thecontainer, and lid closed position shown in FIG.'2 in which closedposition the lid restricts access to the container interior by coveringthe open upper end of the container. Both the container and lid arepreferably formed of a light weight dielectric material such as amoldable phenolic resin.

A latch is provided for holding the lid in the lid closed position. Thelatch includes a bolt 20 mounted for sliding movement within lid 16along a path extending through aligned apertures in lid front wall 25and lid interior wall 26. Bolt 20 includes an extension 22 and a button24 formed integrally therewith. The terminal end of button 24 projectsthrough an opening in front wall 25 providing manual access thereto fromthe exterior of the case. A terminal end of the bolt normally projectsalso to the exterior of lid 16. When the lid is closed however the boltend resides within a recess in container embossment 28 as shown in FIG.2. Bolt 20 thus serves to hold lid 16 in its closed position until slidinwardly by depression of button 24.

Means are also provided for temporarilly restricting movement of bolt 20to lock lid 16 in its closed position. The restricting means includes astop 30 having one end residing against a step in the surface of bolt 20to prevent inward movement of the bolt. A tension spring 32 is securedto the opposite end of stop 30 thereby biasing a mid portion of the stopagainst fulcrum 34 and the other stop end firmly against the bolt step,as shown.

It thus will be appreciated that stop 30, when occupying the positionshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, prevents bolt 20 from sliding inwardly wereforce applied to button 24. Leaf spring 36, secured to the interior topof lid 16 in pressure contact with bolt extension 22, continuouslybiases the bolt in an outwardly direction. Thus, should bolt 20 be slidinwardly by depression of button 24, which action would be permitted byrotation of stop 30 out of engagement with the bolt step, leaf spring 36would force the bolt back outwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and4 once the force of the leaf spring overcame the depression force beingapplied to button 24.

Referring next to FIG. 5 the electronic circuit component of the timelock case is seen to comprise a battery 40 and a capacitor 42 andresistor 44 connected in series circuit across the battery. A solenoidcoil 45 is also connected across the battery in parallel with theresistor and capacitor through a push button switch 46 and through athyristor in the form of a silicon controlled rectifier 48. The gate ofthe SCR is coupled to the resistor and capacitor by means of line 49. Alow resistance path is connected across capacitor 42 through switch 50.

In operation a pack of cigarettes 12 may be inserted into container 14with the lid in an open position as shown in FIG. 1, and the lid thenmanually closed. During closure bolt is momentarilly forced inwardly bycontact with embossment 28 and then sprung outwardly into the embossmentrecess when so aligned by the force of leaf spring 36. In momentarilyforcing the bolt inwardly bolt extension 22 forces the lower end of leafspring 36 also inwardly and into contact with leaf 52 held pendant fromthe top of the interior of lid 16. As leaf spring 36 and leaf 52 providethe contacts for switch 50 shown schematically in FIG. 5, the momentaryengagement of leaf spring 36 with leaf 52 causes switch 50 to closebriefly and to discharge any charge possessed by capacitor 42. Oncebutton 24 is manually released and bolt 20 lodged within embossment 28stop 34 prevents the bolt from sliding inwardly. Thus, for the timebeing depression of the bolt is prevented by the stop thereby lockingthe case closed.

The values of capacitor 42 and resistor 44 are selected to provide alarge time constant whereby the time required for battery 40 to chargefully capacitor 42 is relatively long. Thus, for a substantial period oftime the charge on the capacitor is insufficient to gate SCR 48 which,until so gated, provides a break in the circuitry coupling solenoid 45across the battery. Accordingly, were one to depress button 58, whichprojects to the exterior of lid 16 and which is mechanically coupled toswitch 46, solenoid 45 would still not be coupled to the battery due tothe open condition of the SCR. However, with the passage of time thecharge on capacitor 42 increases and arrives at a sufficient magnitudeto gate the SCR. With SCR 48 now gated into a conductive mode depressionof button 58 to close switch 46 acts to couple solenoid 45 to battery40. The magnetic field generated by the resulting flow of currentthrough the solenoid coil raises the end of stop 30 out of engagementwith the bolt stepthereby unlocking the latch. With button 58 remainingdepressed the bolt may be slid inwardly by depression of bolt button 24and lid 16 then rotated to the open position. When the lid is againreclosed switch 50 is reopened enabling capacitor 42 to commencerecharging slowly.

If desired, the circuit just described may be provided with means forselecting one of several different durations of time locks. Such acircuit is shown in FIG. 6 in which resistors 55 and 56 are connected inparallel across resistor 44 with each of the three resistors being ofdifferent resistive value. Selector switch 60 couples capacitor 42across battery 40 through any selected one of the three resistors. Theselector switch is adapted for manual positioning by means of actuator61 which projects from the bottom of lid 16. This mounting renders theselector switch accessible only when the lid is in its open positionthereby prohibiting the user from reducing the time delay provided bythe lock while the case is locked. In the case of cigarette smokers thisfeature provides an added measure of enforced discipline whilepermitting preset timing adjustments. The presence of the time lockfeature itself serves, of course, as an aid in limiting the frequency ofsmoking by the case user.

One set of values for components of the circuits just described arelisted below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Component Valuc Battery 40 3 volts Resistor 44 22 mcgohmsResistor 55 16.5 mcgnhms Resistor 56 44 mcgohms Capacitor 42 250 mfd at3 volts SCR 48 50 piv at 1 amp An example of commercially available SCRsmeeting the above listed value is Model No. C6F sold by the GeneralElectric Company. 16

With the value selections listed in Table l resistor 55 provides a timelock of some 45 minutes, selection of resistor 44 a time lockapproximately of one hour, and selection of resistor 56 a time lock ofabout two hours. The use of a 3-volt battery enables the time lock caseto be compact and light in weight. That current is supplied to thesolenoid only while switch 46 is manually depressed results in a verylow rate of battery dissipation. Larger batteries could, of course, beused as well as other forms of electronically controlled switchestherewith instead of the SCR. Examples of such include other types ofthyristors, various electron tubes such as ignitrons, and even triggeredspark gaps.

It should be understood that the just described embodiments merelyillustrate principles of the invention in one form. Many modificationsother than those specifically mentioned may, of course, be made withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A time lock case comprising a container having an opening throughwhich access to the container interior may be had; a movable lid adaptedto cover at least a portion of said container opening when disposed in aclosed position; and means for locking said lid in said closed positionfor a predeterminable period of time with said locking means including asource of electric current, a solenoid connected across said currentsource through a manually operable switch and through an electronicallycontrolled switch, and means for triggering said electronicallycontrolled switch closed upon the elapse of said predetermined period oftime whereby current may flow from the current source through theelectronically controlled switch and the solenoid upon closure of themanually operable switch.

2. A time lock case in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lockingmeans includes a bolt mounted for movement along a predetermined path,and a stop mounted for movement out of and into said predetermined pathin response to energization and deenergization of said solenoid,respectively.

3. A time lock case in accordance with claim 2 comprising means fordischarging said capacitor upon movement of said bolt along saidpredetermined path.

4. A time lock case in accordance with claim 3 wherein said dischargemeans comprises switch means mounted within said predetermined path andelectrically coupled across said capacitor.

5. A time lock case in accordance with claim 1 wherein said triggeringmeans comprises a capacitor, a first resistor of first resistivemagnitude, a second resistor of second resistive magnitude, and secondswitch means for coupling said capacitor across said current sourcealternatively through said first resistor and said second resistor.

6. A time lock case in accordance with claim 5 wherein said secondswitch means includes a manually operable switch actuator, said switchactuator being manually accessible only when said lid is disposed in anopen position uncovering said container opening.

7. A time lock case comprising a container having an opening throughwhich access to the container interior may be had; a movable lid adaptedto cover at least a portion of said container opening when disposed in aclosed position; a latch for holding said lid in said closed position;and means for restricting movement of said latch for a predeterminableperiod of time to lock said lid temporarilly in said closed positionwith said restricting means including a source of electric current, asolenoid connected across said current source through a manuallyoperable switch and a thyristor having a gate, a resistor and capacitorconnected in series circuit across said current source, and meanscoupling said thyristor gate with said capacitor.

8. A time lock case in accordance with claim 7 wherein said thyristor isa silicon controlled rectifier.

9. A time lock case in accordance with claim 7 wherein said latchcomprises a bolt mounted for movement along a predetermined path, andwherein said restricting means further comprises a spring biased stopmounted for movement out of and into said predetermined path in responseto energization and deenergization of said solenoid, respectively.

10. A time lock case in accordance with claim 7 comprising means fordischarging said capacitor in response to movement of said latch to anopen position.

11. A time lock case in accordance with claim 10 wherein said dischargemeans comprises a switch connected across said capacitor and actuatableby movement of said latch.

1. A time lock case comprising a container having an opening throughwhich access to the container interior may be had; a movable lid adaptedto cover at least a portion of said container opening when disposed in aclosed position; and means for locking said lid in said closed positionfor a predeterminable period of time with said locking means including asource of electric current, a solenoid connected across said currentsource through a manually operable switch and through an electronicallycontrolled switch, and means for triggering said electronicallycontrolled switch closed upon the elapse of said predetermined period oftime whereby current may flow from the current source through theelectronically controlled switch and the solenoid upon closure of themanually operable switch.
 2. A time lock case in accordance with claim 1wherein said locking means includes a bolt mounted for movement along apredetermined path, and a stop mounted for movement out of and into saidpredetermined path in response to energization and deenergization ofsaid solenoid, respectively.
 3. A time lock case in accordance withclaim 2 comprising means for discharging said capacitor upon movement ofsaid bolt along said predetermined path.
 4. A time lock case inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said discharge means comprises switchmeans mounted within said predetermined path and electrically coupledacross said capacitor.
 5. A time lock case in accordance with claim 1wherein said triggering means comprises a capacitor, a first resistor offirst resistive magnitude, a second resistor of second resistivemagnitude, and second switch means for coupling said capacitor acrosssaid current source alternatively through said first resistor and saidsecond resistor.
 6. A time lock case in accordance with claim 5 whereinsaid second switch means includes a manually operable switch actuator,said switch actuator being manually accessible only when said lid isdisposed in an open position uncovering said container opening.
 7. Atime lock case comprising a container having an opening through whichaccess to the container interior may be had; a movable lid adapted tocover at least a portion of said container opening when disposed in aclosed position; a latch for holding said lid in said closed position;and means for restricting movement of said latch for a Predeterminableperiod of time to lock said lid temporarilly in said closed positionwith said restricting means including a source of electric current, asolenoid connected across said current source through a manuallyoperable switch and a thyristor having a gate, a resistor and capacitorconnected in series circuit across said current source, and meanscoupling said thyristor gate with said capacitor.
 8. A time lock case inaccordance with claim 7 wherein said thyristor is a silicon controlledrectifier.
 9. A time lock case in accordance with claim 7 wherein saidlatch comprises a bolt mounted for movement along a predetermined path,and wherein said restricting means further comprises a spring biasedstop mounted for movement out of and into said predetermined path inresponse to energization and deenergization of said solenoid,respectively.
 10. A time lock case in accordance with claim 7 comprisingmeans for discharging said capacitor in response to movement of saidlatch to an open position.
 11. A time lock case in accordance with claim10 wherein said discharge means comprises a switch connected across saidcapacitor and actuatable by movement of said latch.